The novel may be going the way of the Nook and the iPad, but there's still one form of larger-than-life storytelling which truly benefits from its physical incarnation: comic books! And today really is the greatest day to be a fan, or to dip your toes in the water of spandex-clad superheroes: it's the tenth annual Free Comic Book Day (FCBD). Check out the introductory video below.
Marvel, DC and many of the other major imprints will be giving out free comic books all day as part of the annual promotional tradition. Among this years highlights are issues of Green Lantern and Amazing Spider-Man, a special team-up between Captain America and Thor called Captain America/Thor: The Mighty Fighting Avengers (a primer for/tie-in with the upcoming films), Super Dinosaur written by The Walking Dead scribe Robert Kirkman, and all-new adventures for Inspector Gadget and The Tick.
As AV Club points out, the most intriguing/bizarre selection is The Misadventures Of Adam West, where the “legendary star of the small and silver screen…has his career youth-enized in this hip-whimsical, trans-dimensional epic of an adventure" that eventually leads to Adam West saving the entire universe...hopefully in spandex. Oh, and be forewarned: his love life will also be irrevocably changed. Check out the full list here.
There will also be signings at Jim Hanley's Universe at W 33rd Street, and at Brooklyn Comics and More, Inc., where noted author/illustrator Brian Wood will be appearing at noon. Here's the FCBD Store Locator so you can see all the participating comic book stores. USA Today has some more info for getting the most out of FCBD, including this pro-tip: "Some shops will limit how many free comics you can take (and this is a bummer). Others won't carry the free books you're looking for. If your town has more than one comics shop, plan to visit them all."
